The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-02
A NIGHT OF COMEDY.
John Sleeper Clarke's First Appear
ance Before a Savannah Audience.

John Sleeper Clarke's First Appear
ance Before Savannah Audience.
The Theatre was not filed last night but
it was pretty nearly so. All Of the old
theatre-goers were there and the audience
was thoroughly representative one-one
that any actor would be proud to appear
before. 1t was Mr.. Clarke's first appear
ance in the South, and he was given a well
come that he will not be apt soon to forget.
The audience expected much, and it was
not disappointed. Mr.. Clarke is a comedian
of the old school. He is q man well ad-
vanced in years, but to see him trip over the
stage with the springy steps of youth no
one would think it. Time has dealt gently
with him
The play Heir lat Law" in which ne APP
peared last night, is one of his greatest sue
cesses, and his "Dr. Pangloss" and Ezekiel
Homespun,n are two of his greatest parts.
The plot of Heir-at-Law" is the old hack
neyed one of the wrongful heir being
eventually ousted by the rightful heritor
turning up at an inconvenient period to in.
truders, unwilling and willing alike. But
for one character standing out in mirth-
moving prominence, it is doubtful if
the playwright's work would have lived be-
yo1d his contemporaries 1t is due to the
actor, however, that "Dr. Pangloss" has be-
come one of the characters of proverbs.
The two characters in which Mr.. Clarke
appears are entirely opposite. One is that
of a guileless old tutor; the other that of
blunt and big hearted countryman. His
change from one to the other is as quick as
it is complete, and i'll neither would the
audience suspect that the actor
is the same. Mr.. Clarke's methods are as
effective as they are artistic, and his
comedy is hardly surpassed. He is ably
supported. His son, Mr.. Creston Clarke,
the rollicking, dashing "Dick Dowlas, y
played the part for all it was worth. He
is a graceful and painstaking young actor,
and although yet young, he promises to
take his place we'll up among the names of
those of his family who have acquired his
trionic fame. He is a grandson of the elder
Booth and aspireS to be representative of
the family.
Miss Marie Hudspeth as "Cicely Home
spun" gave charming Interpretation of
the part
Mr.. Theodore Hamilton, the Lord
Duberly" of the play, was very cordially
received The cast is a strong one through
out. At the close of the comedy the origi-
nal epilogue was spoken III characters by
Mesdames Germon. Hudspeth, Hamilton !;
Messrs. Creston Clarke, Hamilton, Boxer,
Leslie and John S. Clarke
The opening piece, n comedietta, "A Fair
Encounter was not less enjoyed than the
comedy itself. There are but two charac-
tiers in the play, Lady Clara st. John" and
Mrs Celia Greenville," and both were
gracefully acted.
Tonight Mr. Clarke will appear in 'She
Stops to Conquer This comedy, the
masterpiece of the dramatic writings of
Oliver Goldsmith has a peculiar, but
natural charm for ladies. In Baltimore and
everywhere else it has drawn overlooking
audiences The fact of Mr. Clarke playing
Tony Lumpkin;" young Clarke, who com
bines both the families of Booth and Clarke,
acting Young NARROW" Mrs. Germon,
who materially is Jefferson and inherits
the comic genius of that family, playing
Mrs. Hardcaste;" Theo. Hamilton, who.
during the war, was the first star
actor in the South, acting odd Hardcastle, ?"
Miss Brandon-a charming reminder of
Mary Anderson-appearing as Miss Hard
castle" Miss Hudspeth, a vivacious Lon
don soubrette of high repute, doing Miss
Neville, is quite enough to command sue
cess. The comedy is SO delightful that
Horper's Magazine published it with illus
trations by Abbey.